Harry Redknapp to face FA charge for ‘cover-up’ comments

Tottenham Hotspur manager
Harry Redknapp is facing an FA charge after suggesting that Manchester United’s controversial second goal at the weekend will be ‘covered-up’.

The Spurs boss was incensed at the final whistle, having witnessed United winger Nani score as goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes prepared to take what he thought was a free kick for a handball in the area.

Nani puts his hand on the ball prior to scoring (PA)

Redknapp said: ‘The officials will come up with a story that will make it look right. That’s the way it happens. He made a cock-up, but he’ll come up with some excuse. We all say from when you’re kids that you should play to the whistle, but he just thought it was a blatant handball. Mark Clattenburg is a top referee but he’s had a nightmare with that. It was a scandalous decision.’

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand backed the decision to let the goal stand, through his Twitter feed, suggesting that Spurs were more than happy to put pressure on the referee during a recent game against Fulham, where a goal could have been disallowed.

Former referee Graham Poll also waded into the debate, telling The Daily Mail that Tottenham should blame Gomes rather than Clattenburg for the goal, although the referee’s decision ‘lacked credibility’.